Patents by Inventor Anthony Crippen

Anthony Crippen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Tow bar having a single moving part for operatively accommodating pitch and roll movements between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle
    Patent number: 7445226
    Abstract: A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle; a towed vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towed vehicle; and an interconnecting mechanism connecting the towing vehicle connection mechanism to the towed vehicle connection mechanism. The interconnecting mechanism defines an interconnection central point and an interconnection vertical axis spaced rearwardly from the interconnection central point. The interconnecting mechanism is structured to accommodate substantially all pitch and roll movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection central point, and to accommodate substantially all yaw movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Merton Hahne, Mark Penlerick, Anthony Crippen
  • Tow bar for vehicle
    Patent number: 7032919
    Abstract: A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle; a towed vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towed vehicle; and an interconnecting mechanism connecting the towing vehicle connection mechanism to the towed vehicle connection mechanism. The interconnecting mechanism defines an interconnection central point and an interconnection vertical axis spaced rearwardly from the interconnection central point. The interconnecting mechanism is structured to accommodate substantially all pitch and roll movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection central point, and to accommodate substantially all yaw movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection vertical axis. The interconnection mechanism includes a disk spring device for accommodating variations in manufacturing tolerances and wear during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventors: Merton Hahne, Mark Penlerick, Anthony Crippen
  • Tow bar having a single moving part for operatively accommodating pitch and roll movements between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle
    Patent number: 6991247
    Abstract: A tow bar for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the tow bar comprising a towing vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towing vehicle; a towed vehicle connection mechanism connected to the towed vehicle; and an interconnecting mechanism connecting the towing vehicle connection mechanism to the towed vehicle connection mechanism. The interconnecting mechanism defines an interconnection central point and an interconnection vertical axis spaced rearwardly from the interconnection central point. The interconnecting mechanism is structured to accommodate substantially all pitch and roll movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection central point, and to accommodate substantially all yaw movements between the towing and towed vehicles at and about the interconnection vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventors: Merton Hahne, Mark Penlerick, Anthony Crippen
  • Ball-and-socket joint for tow bar
    Patent number: D546735
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Automatic Equipment Manufacting Company
    Inventors: Merton Hahne, Mark Penlerick, Anthony Crippen